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What is that sound....?

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by JazzFish, Aug 8, 2020.

  1. JazzFish

    JazzFish New Member

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    I thought I'd give my bike some TLC today and took it to the car wash (Good idea? Bad?). I sprayed it down with the pressure hose and just got it everywhere to remove bugs, etc.

    Once I finished the bike wouldn't ignite. It had the regular sounds of trying to start up. Tried some starter fluid a few times to no avail. The bike backfired a few times. Tried to kick start it; didn't work. Waited around an hour and tried to start again. It worked!

    But on the way home I was in first gear basically the whole time and I couldn't get the engine to rev. Here it is in my garage. I have not got the slightest clue what is going on here. Hoping for some answers and remedies!

     
  2. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    ignition coils got soaked by pressure washer.
    that sound may be misfiring cylinders.

    turn out the lights and see if you have sparks coming from the plug wires

    you really shouldent use a pressure washer on a motorcycle never know where it will force water into
     
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  3. raskal

    raskal Active Member

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    Bad idea.
    You got water onto the electrics. My hopelessly uneducated guess would be a cracked coil or spark plug wire.
    I would let the bike dry a good long time and see if it sounds better.
     
  4. Franz

    Franz Well-Known Member

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    Dry out the plug caps, coils and HT leads with an old hair dryer if you can get one just keep it away from fuel. I used to do that with my 750 Honda.
     
  5. JazzFish

    JazzFish New Member

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    Thanks for the responses: I now know not to use a pressure washer. I've seen bikes come out of the car wash before and just assumed it's a good thing.

    On another note: On other rainy days, something similar happens. Would this mean I have a leak somewhere that I should be having a leak?

    I'm just going to leave the bike to dry for a few days before I do anything with it.
     
  6. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    you have an electron leak through the sparkplug wires or coils. check them out for cracks which can be filled in and the wires can be spliced to replace them.
     
  7. tabaka45

    tabaka45 Well-Known Member

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    I had the same problem on my XJ700. After it dried out it ran normally. However, I found that if I used a hose and ran some water on the plug wire and cap I could duplicate the problem. I let everything dry out and then removed all the plug caps and coated them with dielectric grease inside and out. Never had a problem since and that was a little over a year ago or longer.

    https://www.farmandfleet.com/blog/w...une-up,elements out of electrical connections.
     
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  8. Ben Hinz

    Ben Hinz Member

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    I also had an issue with my 82 650 not running properly when wet. Turned out I had two big cracks on both the coil housings. Filled those in with some epoxy and haven't had the issue since.
     
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  9. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    Hopefully you didn't also get water into the wheel bearings or any of the case seals that have a low clamping force (like the valve cover gasket).
    Pressure washers are not motorcycle friendly.
     
  10. Franz

    Franz Well-Known Member

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    Better with a bucket of water and detergent and wash the bike down with a sponge or soft brush to get all the dirt off. That's what I do.
     
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  11. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    Or just wait for the rain. That's what I do :oops:
     
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  12. Franz

    Franz Well-Known Member

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    I don't have to wait long for rain in Scotland :D.
     
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  13. Franz

    Franz Well-Known Member

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    Billy Connolly said in Scotland we can get four seasons in one day :D.
     
  14. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    Just like Oregon. I still remember the occasional new snow in June up on the mountain.
     
  15. Franz

    Franz Well-Known Member

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    Yes l looked at the big storm in Kansas some wild weather in the states .
     
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